Director Oliver Stone is shooting a three-spot Heineken campaign via Bates China Limited, Hong Kong, for the Asian market. Production is being done through Shooting Stars Productions, New York….Feature director Barry Sonnenfeld is being marketed for commercial work by bicoastal Straw Dogs, which is expected to add executive producer Allison Nunn next month; both Sonnenfeld and Nunn were last affiliated with bicoastal Coppos Films…Los Angeles-based Palomar Pictures has relaunched its music video division, headed by executive producer Lanette Phillips. Palomar has also entered into a co-representation deal with London-based production company Godman….Bicoastal HKM Productions has signed director Michele Civetta….Bicoastal New York Office has opened a music video division, naming Kevin Tachman national head of sales/head of music videos. The company’s music video directors include Jan Houllevigue, Nico Beyer, Piotr Sikora, John Tobleronne, and directing duo Bosco & Johannes…. Santa Monica-based Gun For Hire Film & Tape, which was founded by executive producer Alan Stamm and producer/director Bob Kronovet, has changed its name to 30 Second Films. The company reps directors Debbie Allen and Tony Dow….Via a nonexclusive relationship with West Hollywood-based Dark Light Pictures, director Brad Silberling (whose feature credits include Casper and City of Angels) has wrapped a Coca-Cola spot out of Leo Burnett Co., Chicago. Also, after completing cinematography on Anna and the King and Patriot, Caleb Deschanel is again available to direct commercials at Dark Light….Pacific Data Post has formally opened its doors. The Santa Monica facility was launched by Neil Feldman, who is president of Dallas-based Video Post & Transfer, and veteran L.A. colorist Steve Behar. The shop also features senior colorist Paul Lear….Editor Brad Wetmore is set to join Mad River Post, Santa Monica, effective Feb. 1….
Google Opens Its Defense In Antitrust Case Alleging Monopoly Over Online Ad Technology
Google opened its defense against allegations that it holds an illegal monopoly on online advertising technology Friday with witness testimony saying the industry is vastly more complex and competitive than portrayed by the federal government.
"The industry has been exceptionally fluid over the last 18 years," said Scott Sheffer, a vice president for global partnerships at Google, the company's first witness at its antitrust trial in federal court in Alexandria.
The Justice Department and a coalition of states contend that Google built and maintained an illegal monopoly over the technology that facilitates the buying and selling of online ads seen by consumers.
Google counters that the government's case improperly focuses on a narrow type of online ads — essentially the rectangular ones that appear on the top and on the right-hand side of a webpage. In its opening statement, Google's lawyers said the Supreme Court has warned judges against taking action when dealing with rapidly emerging technology like what Sheffer described because of the risk of error or unintended consequences.
Google says defining the market so narrowly ignores the competition it faces from social media companies, Amazon, streaming TV providers and others who offer advertisers the means to reach online consumers.
Justice Department lawyers called witnesses to testify for two weeks before resting their case Friday afternoon, detailing the ways that automated ad exchanges conduct auctions in a matter of milliseconds to determine which ads are placed in front of which consumers and how much they cost.
The department contends the auctions are finessed in subtle ways that benefit Google to the exclusion of would-be competitors and in ways that prevent... Read More